B33: Sicilian: Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations

1.e4 c5 The Sicilian Defense.

2.Nf3 Nc6

Keeping up in minor piece development and also creating central tension (especially at the d4-points).

3.d4

Attacking in the center.

3...cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6

The most popular continuation for Black, Cmilyte begins to develop her kingside minor pieces.

5.Nc3 e5

This aggressive move forces Kosteniuk to either play6.Nxc6 or lose a tempo.

6.Ndb5

Almost always played here by White, Kosteniuk, pressures both the c7 point and the d6-square. She is tempting Cmilyte to play ...a6.

6...d6

Developing the bishop aggressively, which results in a pin against the Black king's knight.

7...a6

Cmilyte forces Kosteniuk to retreat her bishop.

8.Na3

[ Rarely played by White in this position is the move 8.Bxf6 ]

8...b5

Cmiylte threatens to win a knight via.....9...b4.

9.Bxf6

Kosteniuk gives Cmilyte the two bishops in order to eliminate Cmilyte' s influence over the d5-square so Kosteniuk can play Nd5. [ Rarely played moves in this position are: (a) 9.Nd5 ; and (b) 9.Nab1 ]
The game continued:

9...gxf6

[ Rarely played is 9...Qxf6 ]

10.Nd5

Kosteniuk occupies the key d5-square. This will hamper Cmilyte in her ability to coordinate her pieces.And now Cmilyte's queen is tied down to the defense of the Black pawn on f6.

10...f5

The most popular move for Black at this stage of the game, attacking the pawn supporting the well-positioned White knight.

11.Bd3

This is the most often played move for White at this point of the game. Kosteniuk develops her last minor piece and threatens to win a pawn via 12.exf5.

11...Be6

This move prevents Kosteniuk from winning the Black pawn on f5 because then Cmilyte would win the knight via 13...Bxd5.

12.0-0 Bxd5

Cmilyte eliminates the well placed White knight at the cost of losing the two bishops.

13.exd5 Ne7

A rarely played move, found only once in my Chessbase powerbook database. Kosteniuk centralizes her rook. [ 14.Qh5 e4 15.Be2 Bg7 16.c3 Qd7 17.Rad1 0-0 18.f4 b4 19.cxb4 Rab8 20.Nc4 Rxb4 21.Kh1 Rb5 22.b3 Nxd5 23.a4 Rc5 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.Nb6 Qb7 26.Nxd5 Qxd5 27.Bc4 Qc5 28.Rd1 Kh8 Kuzmin,G-Dolmatov,S/Yerevan 1982/MCL/1-0 (64); 14.f3 Bg7 15.c3 0-0 16.Nc2 f4 17.a4 bxa4 18.Rxa4 Qb6+ 19.Kh1 Qxb2 20.Qa1 Qxa1 21.Rfxa1 Rfc8 22.R4a3 a5 23.Kg1 Rc5 24.Nb4 e4 25.fxe4 Bxc3 26.Rb1 Rb8 27.Na2 Rxb1+ 28.Bxb1 Bd4+ Pompe,J-Wissemann,A/Wiesbaden 2001/EXT 2002/0-1 (40)]

Returning to the moves played in the Kosteniuk-Cmilyte game:

14...Bg7

Cmilyte develops her last minor piece although the bishop will lack mobilty due to her e-pawn being situated on e5. [RR: 14...e4 15.Bf1 Bg7 16.c3 0-0 17.Nc2 Rc8 18.g3 Rc5 19.Ne3 f4 20.gxf4 f5 21.a4 Ng6 22.Ng2 Nh4 23.Re3 Nxg2 24.Bxg2 Bh6 25.axb5 Bxf4 26.Rh3 axb5 27.Kh1 Qe7 28.Rh5 Qf7 29.Rh4 Be5 30.Bh3 Rxd5 31.Qe2 Kh8 32.f4 exf3 33.Qxf3 Rd2 34.Bf1 Rxb2 35.Bd3 Rb3 36.Ra8 Rxc3 37.Rxf8+ Qxf8 38.Qxf5 Qa8+ 39.Kg1 Rc1+ 40.Kf2 Qa2+ 41.Kf3 Qa8+ 42.Kf2 Qa2+ 43.Kf3 Qa8+ 1/2-1/2 Czebe,A-Starostits,I/Budapest 1997/CBM 56 ext (43)]

The game now continued:

15.Rb1

Kosteniuk spends a tempo to protect her b-pawn which was threatened by the move 15....e4.

15...0-0

16.c4

Kosteniuk both supports her d-pawn and opens up the c2-square for her knight on c2 (in case Cmilyte were to play ... b4).

16...e4

Advancing her e-pawn winning a tempo.
[ Analysis: Shredder: 16...b4 17.Nc2 Rb8 18.Qh5 e4 19.Be2 Qa5 20.Qg5 Rfe8 ]

17.Bf1

[ Analysis: Shredder 6: 17.Be2 b4 18.Nc2 Qa5 19.Qd2 Qxa2 20.Qxb4 Rfd8]

17...bxc4

Cmilyte decides to open up the b-file. [ Analysis:Shredder 6: 17...b4 18.Nc2 Qa5 19.Qd2 Qxa2 20.Qxb4 Be5 21.Qb7 Bf6]

18.Nxc4 Rb8

Kosteniuk gains space on the queenside and prevents Cmilyte from playing ...Qa5.

19...Rb5

Creating a double-attack against Kosteniuk's d-pawn,which wins Cmilyte a tempo. [ Analysis: Hiarcs 8: 19...Qc8 20.Qd2 Qc7 21.a3 Qd7]

20.Ne3

The lost tempo.

20...f4!?

Cmilyte decides to offer a temporary exchange sacrifice. [Analysis:Shredder: 20...Rb6 21.Qh5 Qd7 22.a3 f4 23.Nc4 Rb5 24.Qg5 Nxd5 ]

The players now continued the game with these moves:

21.Bxb5 fxe3
22.Rxe3

[Analysis: Shredder preferred to play 22.Bc4: 22.Bc4 Qc7 23.Rc1 exf2+ 24.Kxf2 Qb6+ 25.Kf1 f5 26.Qa4 Be5 27.Qxa6 Qxb4]

The game continued:

22...axb5

For the moment regaining material equality.

23.Rxe4

Kosteniuk goes up a pawn.

23...Qd7

Protecting her isolated b-pawn and intending ...Qb7.

24.Qd3

Tieing down the Black queen to defend the Black b-pawn. [ Analysis: Shredder 6: 24.Qd3 Be5 25.Rc1 Qb7 26.Rd1 Rc8 27.Qe3 Qd7 28.Qe2 Ng6 ]

24...Ra8

Attacking Kosteniuk;s undefended a-pawn. [ Analysis:Shredder 6: 24...Be5 25.Qd2 f5 26.Ree1 f4 27.Rb3 f3 28.Rxf3 Rxf3 29.gxf3 Ng6 And Shredder evaluates Black as having sufficient compensation for the two pawns.; Fritz 7: 24...Ng6 25.Rc1=]

Returning to the moves played in the game, Kosteniuk now played:

25.Rbe1

Creating a double-attack against Cmilyte's knight,which wins a tempo and prevents Cmilyte from playing ...Rxa2. [Analysis: Shredder 6: 25.Rbe1 Be5 26.Qd2 Kh8 27.R1e2 Qb7 28.Rxe5 dxe5 29.Rxe5 Ng6 30.Re3 Rd8 =]

25...Be5

The lost tempo.

26.f4

Immediately attacking the pinned Black knight winning a tempo.

26...Bf6

The lost tempo which prevents Kosteniuk from playing 27.Rxe7.

27.R4e2

Defending her a-pawn. [ Analysis: (a)Shredder 6: 27.a3 Rc8 28.Kh1 Kh8 29.Qd1 Qb7 30.Qf3 Nxd5 31.Re8+ Rxe8 32.Rxe8+ Kg7 33.Re1 Qc6 ]

27...Rc8

Taking the king off the diagonal.

28...Qb7

Creating a double-attack against the White d-pawn. [ Analysis:Fritz 7: 28...Kg7 29.g4 Bh4 30.Rg1=]

29.Qh3

Tieing down Cmilyte's Queen to the defense of the Black rook which prevents Cmilyte from playing ....Qxd5.

29...Kg7

[ Analysis: Now if Cmilyte was to capture Kosteniuk's d-pawn play might have continued: 29...Nxd5 30.Qg4+ ( 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.Rxe8+ Kg7 (The only move.) 32.Qg3+ Kh6 33.Qh3+ Kg7= With a draw the likely result.) 30...Kf8 31.Qh3 Kg8=; (b) A mistake would be for Cmilyte to capture Kosteniuk's d-pawn: 29...Qxd5? 30.Rxe7 Rf8 ( 30...Bxe7? 31.Qxc8+ ) 31.Qg4+ Bg7 32.f5 Qd4 33.Qxd4 Bxd4 34.Re8 ]

Returning to the moves played in the game, Kosteniuk now played:

30.Re3

Creating the threat of 31.Rg3+
[ Analysis: Hiarcs 8: 30.f5 h6 31.Qg3+ Kh7 32.Qxd6 Nxd5 33.a3 Bg5 And Hiarcs suggests Black as having sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

Black now played:

30...Ng6

Attacking Kosteniuk's unprotected f-pawn winning a tempo. [ Analysis: (a)Hiarcs 8: 30...h6 31.Qg4+ Kh7 32.a3 Rc4 33.Rd3 Bc3 ; (b)Fritz 7: 30...Rc4: ¹30...Rc4 31.Qh5 Ng6= ( 31...Nxd5?? 32.Rg3+ Bg5 33.Qxg5+ Kh8 34.Qg7#; (b) 31...Qxd5? fails to 32.Rg3+ Kf8 33.Qh6+ Ke8 34.Qxf6 ; (c)A weaker alternative is 31...Rxf4?! 31...Rxf4?! 32.Rh3 Be5 33.Qxh7+ Kf8 34.Rh5³) ]

Going back to the moves played in the game:

31.Re4

The lost tempo. [ Analysis: Hiarcs 8 and Fritz 7:Better was 31.f5 and White can hope to live: 31...Ne5 32.Rg3+ Kf8 33.Qh6+ Ke7 34.Rd3 Rc4 35.a3 Qc8 ]

31...Rc3

Attacking Kosteniuk's Queen winning a tempo.

32.Qh5

The lost tempo. [ Analysis: Hiarcs 8: 32.Qf5 Rc2 ( 32...Qa8 33.R4e2 Rc4) 33.R4e2 Rc4 34.g3 Rxb4 35.Rd1 Qc7=]

32...Rd3

The lost tempo. [ Analysis: (a) Shredder 6: 33.Qg4 Bc3 ( 33...Qxd5 34.f5 h5 35.Qe2 Rd2 36.Qxh5 Rf2 37.Qd1 Qxf5) 34.Rf1 Qxd5 35.f5 h5 36.Qe2 Ne5 37.f6+ Kg8; (b) Hiarcs 8: 33.Rd1 Rxd1+ 34.Qxd1 Ne7 35.a3 Qxd5 36.Re1 Qxd1 37.Rxd1 d5 ]

Cmilyte next played the capture:

33...Rxd1+

34.Qxd1 Ne7

Creating a double-attack against Kosteniuk's d-pawn winning this pawn.

35.Re3

Intending 36.Rg3+ if Cmilyte does not move her king now. [ Analysis: Shredder 6:(If Kosteniuk had played 35.Qg4+ she would have temporarily won a tempo for her pawn, yet this move would have in fact cost her several tempi as this variation shows): 35.Qg4+ Kf8 36.Re1 Qxd5 37.a3 Ng6 38.Qc8+ Kg7 39.Qc1]

The game continued:

35...Qxd5

Fritz evaluates that Cmilyte has a decisive advantage. [ Analysis: Shredder gave a better evaluation to capturing with the knight: 35...Nxd5 36.Rg3+ Kf8 37.a3 Qc6 38.Rf3 Bb2 39.f5 Ke7 40.Qe1+ Be5]

The next moves in the game were:

36.Rg3+

Winning a tempo.

36...Kf8

37.Rd3

Now Kosteniuk will win Cmilyte's d-pawn. [ Hiarcs gave a better evaluation to exchanging queens: 37.Qxd5 Nxd5 38.Rd3 Nxb4 39.Rxd6 Kg7 40.Rb6 Nxa2 41.Rxb5 Nc3=]

37...Qe4

Allowing Cmilyte to regain the pawn.

38.Rxd6 Qxf4.
38.Rxd6 Qxf4
39.Rd8+

Winning a tempo. [ Analysis: Shredder 6 and Fritz 7: 39.Rd3 Be5 ( 39...Qxb4 40.Rb3 Qc4µ) 40.Rh3 h6 41.a3 Nf5 42.Qg1 Qd2 43.Rf3 Nd4 44.Rf2 Qc3 ]

Cmilyte now played:

39...Kg7

The only move.

40.Rd3

Intending Rb3. [ Analysis: Shredder and Hiarcs both suggested saving the Black b-pawn: 40.a3 Nf5 ( Hiarcs 8: 40...Be5 41.Qg1 Nf5 42.Rd3 f6 43.Rf3 Qe4 ) 41.Rd3 Ne3 42.Qc1 Be5 43.Qg1 Bd4 ]

Black's next move in the game was:

40...Qxb4

Winning a tempo for her pawn.

41...Qc4

Pinning Kosteniuk's rook against her a-pawn.

42.Qb1

Creating a double-attack against Cmilyte's b-pawn.

42...Nd5

Creating the threat of ...Nc3.

43.Rg3+

Kosteniuk creates luft and an escape square for her king. [ Analysis: (a)Hiarcs 8: 44.a3 Bd4 45.Rd3 Bc5 46.Rf3 Ne3 47.Qb2 Qd5 48.Qa1 Ng4 ; (b)Shredder 6: 44.Rf3 Bd4 ( 44...Be5) 45.a3 Ne3 46.Rf2 Qc3 47.Rf4 Kg7 48.Qg1 f5 49.Qb1 Bc5 50.a4 Qe5 51.Rf3 bxa4 ]

Cmilyte now played:

44...Be5

Attacking Kosteniuk's rook winning a tempo. [ Analysis: Hiarcs 8: 44...Nc3 45.Qc1 Ne4 46.Qa3+ b4 47.Qa8+ Ke7 48.Qb7+ Ke6 49.Qb6+ Nd6 50.Re3+ Be5]

White's next move was:

45.Rf3

The lost tempo.

45...f6

Anchoring her bishop. [ Analysis: Shredder 6: 45...Ke7 46.a3 Nf4 47.Re3 Ke6 48.Re4 Qd5 49.Qc2 f5 50.Re1]

Returning to the moves played in the ga me:

46.a3

Kosteniuk frees up her queen from having to protect her a-pawn. [ Analysis:Fritz 7: 46.Ra3 Qf4 47.g3 Qc4]

46...Nf4

( Threatening 47...Ne2 48.Qe1 Ng3+ )

The game now continued:

47.Qd1

Giving her Queen more mobility on the open d-file. [ A game ending mistake would be 47.Qxh7??: 47.Qxh7?? Qc1+ 48.Kh2 Ne2+ 49.g3 Qg1#]

Cmilyte next played:

47...Ke7

Preventing Kosteniuk from playing 48.Qd8+ [ Analysis: Fritz 7: 47...Nh5 48.Qd8+ Kg7 49.Qd7+ Kg6 50.Qd3+ Qxd3 51.Rxd3 Ng3+ 52.Kg1]

For her next move, Kosteniuk moved her queen:

48.Qg1

Possibly intending 49.Qa7+.
[ Analysis:Fritz 7: 48.Re3 Qa2 49.Qf1 Qd2]

48...Ne2

[ Analysis: Fritz 7: Better was 49.Qe3 Qc2 50.g3 Kf8]

Cmilyte now played:

49...Ke6
[ Analysis: Fritz 7: A shorter path might be: 49...Kf8 50.Qa8+ Kg7 51.Qa7+ Kh6 52.Qe3+ Bf4 53.Rxf4 Nxf4 54.Kh2 ]

The players now played these moves:

50.Qb6+ Kf7
51.Qa7+?

Fritz evaluated this move as a mistake. [ Analysis: Fritz 7: 51.Qe3 Qc2 52.Qb3+ Qxb3 53.Rxb3 53...Nd4]

51...Kg6

[ Analysis: Shredder 6 and Fritz 7: Playing the move 51...Kf8!? makes it even easier for Cmilyte:: 51...Kf8!? 52.Qa8+ ( 52.Qe3 Bf4 53.Rxf4 Nxf4 54.Kh2) 52...Kg7 53.Qa7+ Kh6 54.Qe3+ Bf4 55.Rxf4 Nxf4 Would leave Cmilyte up a knight. 56.Kh2 ]

Going back to the moves played in the game, which continued:

52.Qe3 Qc2

Creating the threat of 1...Qd1+ 2.Rf1 Qxf1+ 3.Qg1 Qxg1# (-#3) 52...h5 makes it even easier for Black 53.Qd3+ Kg5 54.Qd2+ Bf4 ]

Kosteniuk next played the move:

53.Qd3+

Forcing off the Queens. [ Analysis: Shredder 6 and Fritz 7: 53.g4 h5 54.Qd3+ Qxd3 55.gxh5+ Kxh5 56.Rxd3 Kg5 ]

53...Qxd3

54.Rxd3 Nc3

Protecting her b-pawn.
[Analysis: 54...Nd4 might be the shorter path to victory: 55.Rc3 Kf5 56.a4 bxa4 57.Ra3 h5 58.Rxa4 Ke4 59.Kg1 h4 60.Kf1 f5 61.Ra2 Bg3 62.Ra7 Kd3 63.Ra3+ Kd2 64.Ra7 Nc2 65.Rd7+ Ke3 66.Re7+ Kd3 67.Rd7+ Ke4 68.Ke2 Nd4+ 69.Kd2 Be5 70.Rh7 Bf6 71.Rc7;

(b)Also better than 53...Nc3 was 54...h5: 54...h5 55.Rb3 Nd4 56.Rb4]

Returning to the moves played in the ga me:

55.g4 Kg5

Preventing the advance of Kosteniuk's h-pawn.

56.Rf3

With this move Kosteniuk prevents Cmilyte from advancing her f-pawn.

56...Ne2

Intending ...Nd4.
[ Fritz evaluation:56...Kh4 57.Rd3 ]

The game continued:

57.Kg2

Beginning to centralize her king.
[ Analysis: Fritz 7: 57.Rf5+ Kg6 58.Rf3 Nd4 ]

57...Nd4

The lost tempo. [ Analysis:Fritz 7: 58.Re3 Kf4 59.Rc3 Ke4 60.Kf2 f5 61.gxf5 Bf6 ]

58...Kf4

59.Rc8 Bd6

Attacking Kosteniuk's unprotected a-pawn.

60.a4

60...b4

This move gains both players passed pawns. [ Analysis: Dubious is capturing the pawn: 60...bxa4?! 61.Rc4 Be5 62.Rxa4 ]

Returning to the moves played in the game:

61.a5 b3
62.a6??

Kosteniuk commits a blunder which leads to a quick end to the game.

Kosteniuk commits a blunder which leads to a quick end to the game.

62...b2 63.a7 b1Q 64.a8Q Qb2+ 65.Kh1 Kg3